Siân James (novelist)


Siân James is a Welsh novelist, academic and translator, who writes in English.

Birth and academic posts

James, born near Llandysul in Carmarthenshire, attended the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. She is a Fellow of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Glamorgan, and is a Fellow of the Welsh Academy.

Writing career

Siân James has twice won the Yorkshire Post Prize. Her third novel, A Small Country, has come to be regarded as a classic of Anglo-Welsh literature. In 2006, A Small Country was adapted as a Welsh-language TV series, Calon Gaeth, which won the 2007 Bafta Cymru award for Best Drama/Drama Serial for Television. James translated Kate Roberts's novel Y Byw Sy'n Cysgu into English as The Awakening.

Family

In 1958 Siân James married the actor, Emrys James. They lived for a time near Stratford-upon-Avon, where he worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Their four children were William, Owen, Jo and Anna. Emrys James died in 1989.

Works